Windows – Set default/starting folder for Explorer in taskbar without duplicate icon on launch in Windows 8.1

shortcutstaskbarwindows 8.1windows-explorer

I want to have an icon in Windows 8.1 Taskbar that opens Windows Explorer in a specific folder and does not create a second icon when I click the first.

I tried several approaches to do this:

  1. Pin Windows Explorer to Taskbar and Shift+Right Click > Properties.

    Windows Explorer properties

    As you can see in the image the Target location, Target, and Start in fields are non-editable. So I cannot specify folder where to start.

  2. I tried to go C:\Users\myuser\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar , Right-Click > Properties and those fields are also non-editable.

  3. Moved that lnk file to another folder and the same situation continues to happen.

  4. I went to the folder above the one I wanted to create the link. Then I selected the folder I wanted for the link, Right-Click > Send to > Desktop (create Shortcut). Finally, I closed all Windows Explorer windows, and in the newly created shortcut at the Desktop, I did: Right-click > Pin to Start. I went to the Start Screen and Right-click > Pin to taskbar.

After that, I see in the taskbar an icon that is not the one of Windows Explorer, but the Folder icon. If I Click on that icon, I will see the folder I want, but I noticed in the taskbar there was an added icon for Windows Explorer, which only serves to inconveniently occupy space.

If I recall correctly, I could do this easily in Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Best Answer

This works for me in 8.1:

  1. Pin File Explorer (FE) to the taskbar.
  2. Suppose X is the folder you want FE to open initially. Create a shortcut to X (SX) on the desktop.
  3. Using FE, copy SX to the folder Y = C:\Users. . .\TaskBar mentioned in the first answer above.
  4. Delete FE from Y.
  5. Rename SX in Y to FE.
  6. Close all copies of FE.
  7. Click on FE in the taskbar. It opens to X and does not cause another icon to appear in the taskbar.
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